Shaper dust discharge

[james klein]

Anyone know any tricks for minimizing or catching the dust that shoots in the infeed direction at to high a velocity to be drawn into the dust collector? This occurs predominatly with panel raisers and large cutters.

[Peter Quinn]

It helps if the panel hood extends beyond the diameter of the cutter and is just high enough above the table to let the stock pass. I've had good success with a shop made fence that also minimizes the opening at the spindle which helps for narrow panels, and the hood portion of which extends over the cutter head about 1". Its a design taken from Lonnie Byrds old shaper book, I've heard the book called obsolete, but I think there are lots of good tips in there, and the panel hood has very good capture. You could probably modify the idea to work with a fence plate that attaches to the stock hood with a shroud that projects out past the cutter to increase capture. I've done something similar when raising MDF panels, works pretty well.

Check out this (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?16388-Picture-of-new-shaper-question-about-cutters) post, post number 3 for a good picture of the concept.

[Steve Jenkins]

If the panel hood covers the cutter add a piece of brush flashing to the right side of it. The panel will push through the brush and the chips and dust will be directed into the dust pickup.

[james klein]

That's clever with the brush flashing. Looks like I need to improve my hood a bit first. Thanks guys !